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Leners Patenten. 75,168, dated Mtnl e, 186e.

IMPBOVBD CLOTHES-SPRINKLEE.

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T0 ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME Be it known that I, E. H. Krnnnnii, of Boston, in the county of Su'olk, and Commonwealth of Masse chusetts, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Implements forSprinkling Clothes for'laundry' purposes; and do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, due'referenco being had to-the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, und in which-- Figure 1 is n. vertical central and longitudinal section, and Y Figure 2 a horizontal section of a clothes-sprinkler constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figui-e3 is n representation of the series oi' elastic valves to be hereinafter described.

This invention is of that class of clothes-sprinklers in which an elastic bulb, provided with a fornminous nozzle, is employed, the object of the invention being to facilitate or expedite the filling ofthe bulhwith Water.

The invention consists in making one or more apertures or ports through the side of the spray-distributing nozzle or cap, und combining with each of such ports a valve, in suchmanner as to allow -of entrance of water .through these ports to the bulb, but to prevent escepeof water outwardly through them, `.Then such Water is ejected'from the bulb, the ports being suicient in number or size to allow thc quantity of water, necessary for filling the bulb, to'pass through them very quickly. i

By referring to theaccompanying` drawings, above mentioned as illustratingemy invention, the implement is shown as composed of a bulb, a, made of vulcanized India rubber, and of the form, substantially, of an ordi nary enema-syringe bulb, the neck b of the bulb being attached to one end of a tubular stem, c, of glass or other material, the opposite end of this tube being provided with a foraminoue spray-disseminatingcap or nozzle, d, which is composed of a short cylinder of Britannia or other .proper material, with its outer end closed, and convex in form, and perforated with4 a series of very small holes, e ee, die. -a a represent two of a. series of ports made through the side of the cap d, and communicating with its interior, the inner opening of these ports being covered by vulves gy, which consist of spurs projecting from an annulus, n, of India rubber which encircles the neckfof the tube c, und is ccnlined between such neck and the cap d.

The above description will enable any person' convex-sant with the manufacture of analogous implements or devieesto make my invention,

In operating with it, it is to be held in a persons hand, with the first and second finger clusping the neck of the bulb, and with the thumb resting upon its outer end. Thus held, the bulb is to be compressed, end the air expelled from it by pressure applied to it by the thumb, `and the foraminous nozzle dipped into a bowl or other` v essel containing water, the pressure of the thumb upon the bulb being subsequently removed. By the distension of the bnlb,^consequent upon its contraction, the valves gg are drawnv inward, and recede from and open the ports a a to the entrance of ivater, which readily and expeditiously flows through them as well as the-perforations e e, isc., and the stem e, and fills the `vacuum of the bulb. Upon applying pressure a second time to the bulb a, the Water contained therein will be eiectedfrom it through the perforations e e e in a tine spray, theV valves gg, by the pressure and current of the unter, being forced tightly in contact with the edges ofthe portsl a a', and etlectually closing them.

The spray disseminated through the foraminous nozzle c? is highly favorable for the purpose sought, the clothes or articles being dampened by it in an even and uniform manner.

Were it not ior the port-s a a', much time, comparatively, would be required to effect the filling ofthe bulb, end. the person using the implement vfould lose time in Waiting. v

bly object in making the tubular stem c or" the length shown in the accompanying drawings, is to allow the implement to be readily grasped,tvithout wetting n persons hand when such neck is immersed within a vessel containing `suieient water to cover it. Il a very short tube vwere employed, the entire implement would be immersed in water if left standing therein.

Another advantage resultingfrom the use of a long stem is, that the implement may be inserted within a vessel of contracted diameter and considerable height. Having thus described the nature of my invention, and its bdvantages, what I claim to benovcl und original with myself, and desire to vsecure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

A clothes-sprinkler, made essentially as hciein shown and described, that is to say, as composed of the elastic bulb a, tubular stem c, and fornminous cap al, the latter being proyidedivith ports und valves, substantially in manner and for the purpose as hereinbefore explained.

I also clnim the beforedescribed inode of forming and applying the valvesgg, that is, as consisting of the annulus n andvspursg g applied to the neck of the stem c, and so as to covei' the parte a af, the whole being arranged and operating as'set forth, und explained.

- E. H. KIRKHAM'.

v Witnesses;

FRED. CURTIS, C. W. BALDWIN 

